I’m “Sippin’ in the Rain”
Who doesn’t love brunch? That perfect portmanteau of breakfast and lunch, where drinking a cocktail (or two) before noon is perfectly acceptable…
I recently stumbled upon a lovely film themed cocktail book by Tim Federle, cheekily titled: Gone With The Gin – Cocktails with a Hollywood Twist, and have decided to challenge myself to working my way though its contents, one drink, and film, at a time. Each drink, and food, recipe is paired with an iconic film and Federle offers amusing trivia facts and mini summaries that make reading though the recipes just as much fun as diving into the kitchen to whip up a batch of cocktails.
This month, I was inspired to try the Singin’ in the Rain (1952) cocktail – a fancy take on a mimosa – amusingly dubbed: “Sippin’ in the Rain.” The recipe seemed simple enough, and I just happened to have all the ingredients on hand, so I gave the concoction a try. To make the drink you pour ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur (like Chambord) and 1 ½ ounces orange juice into a tall champagne flute, then top with champagne (about 4 ounces), and finally garnish with a raspberry and mini cocktail umbrella (Federle 2015). I like the look of a cocktail umbrella spearing the raspberries (optional, but oh so fun), especially when perched on the side of the flute, but do whatever works for you. I was surprised how good this mimosa actually was, as I am not a huge fan of orange juice, in general, but the subtle sweet raspberry flavor pairs really well with the orange juice and champagne.
Because I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen so much (it’s basically edible – hopefully – chemistry) I’ve come up with subtle variations on this drink. For a ‘virgin’ and family friendly mocktail version of this drink, you can omit all the alcohol and use flavored sparkling seltzer and sugar syrup instead. In my house, we’re particularly fond of Polar Orange Vanilla Seltzer (to replace the champagne) and Torani Raspberry Syrup (to replace the Chambord). The Orange Vanilla seltzer (on its own, without the added raspberry flavor) gives the mock-mimosa a kind of creamsicle vibe, with a very pleasant, not too sweet, flavor. Next time I make this drink, I think I will try freezing some fresh raspberries to pop into my drink to help keep it chilled a little longer.
So, go ahead, plan a fun brunch, and give “Sippin’ in the Rain” a try. Pair the cocktail with a nice fruit salad and some pastry – like almond croissants (we won’t tell if you buy the Trader Joe’s frozen kind), and before you know it you might be singing “Good Morning, Good Morning” with as much enthusiasm as Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor.
Please don’t forget, my fellow film enthusiasts, to drink responsibly and only try the cocktail version if you are 21 and older. Which do you think is better, the cocktail or the mocktail? What are some of your favorite Singin’ in the Rain moments? What other film themed cocktails would you be interested to try? Tell us what you think and share your thoughts in the comments below!
Copyright © 2019 Sarah Crane
